The appeal of riding with Slug Velo is predictability. You can always count on the rides being fun, flat, and full of friendly attitudes. Sunday’s fifth annual Coffee Worship Ride was no different.

In fact, yesterday’s ride was not just predictable, it was eerily similar to last years. Check out the two photos below. The one of the left was taken on 2/5/06, the one on the right was taken 364 days later (yesterday).

Seriously, this was not staged. It’s actually the same exact puddle, in the same place in the road, with people posed the same way, and with the same tree in the reflection…weird huh?!

OK, back to the ride.

[Happy Birthday Slug Velo (and Beth)!]

It was perfect riding weather and a fitting day to toast Slug Velo’s fourth birthday.

Slug founder Beth Hamon also had a birthday last week and her friend and cycling buddy Mike Rasmussen brought her some specially roasted coffee beans to mark the occasion (can you tell if she likes them or not?).

As usual for Slug Velo rides, recumbents represented. One of them had a cool electric-assist unit on it. Turns out it’s from a local company called EcoSpeed that specializes in “hybrid pedal-electric recumbent bicycles.”

Our half-way point stop was Anna Bannana’s in St. Johns. Ms. Bannana’s was a great host (she’s standing next to Beth in the photo below) and she made sure we all got plenty of coffee and treats.